Flashlight case and support



June 23,1942. PlERCE 2,287,485

FLASHLIGHT CASE AND SUPPORT Filed Ma ch 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l j \flk g Q2 6 2a 4519 Jun 23, 1942. 1 p c 2,287,485

FLASHLIGHT CASE AND SUPPORT Filed March 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 23, 1942. MERGE 2,287,485

FLASHLIGHT CASE AND SUPPORT 'Filed March 24, 1939 4 heets sheet s June 23, 1942. L. B. PIERCE FLASHLIGHT CASE AND SUPPORT 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Filed March 24, 1939 .iune 2,3, 3%42 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,485 FLASHLIGHT CASE AND SUPPORT Louis Bryon Pierce, Klamath Falls, Oreg'. Application March 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,992

(01'. 24s s59) v 9 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlight cases and to'means for supporting the same in various posi- -tions.

The invention has as its primary object to pro- I vide a supporting means for a flashlight which may be attached to or form a part of the casing of the flashlight and which will not be cumbersome when the light, with the support in collapsed position, is used as a. hand lantern.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for a flashlight or the like which will be versatile in its manner of use so as to act as a clamp for attaching the light to a suitable support or as a base or stand in supporting the light on a fiat surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for readily adjusting-the position of the flashlight or other supported object, greatly increasing the usefulness of the device as a whole.

A further object is to provide a combination clamping support and base stand which will readily engage supporting surfaces or standards of various contours.

It is also the object of the invention to provide a combination flashlight casing and supporting stand andclamp for mounting the same in which the case and supporting structure are formed in such manner that when collapsed, the support becomes in effect a part of the casing itself.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the.following detailed description of the invention in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a flashlight and supporting means embodying the invention, the support being in collapsed condition,

Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section,

- showing the support used as.a clamp,

Fig. 11 is a side view of the modified support used as a clamp,

Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged details of parts of the clamp adjusting means,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a modified clamp and foot,

Fig. 15 is a plan view of a clamping foot, Fig. '16 is a plan view, partly in section of a portion of the modified form of supporting mechanism employed with the modification illustrated in Fig. 18, showing the same clamped onto a round object, I

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the manner of clamping the support on a thin, narrow object, I

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of a modified form of light casing and supporting mechanism, and

19 is a sectional view on the line I9--l9- of Fig. 18.

Referring now more particularly to the form -of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, in-

in ball sockets 26. The ball sockets 26 frictionally engage a ball 21 carried onthe end of an extension 28 of one of a pair of arms 29 and 30 of an articulated bifurcated unit, which arms are pivotally connected together at one end thereof by means of a rivet 3|.

The arms 29 and-30 are curved and shaped adjacent their meeting ends so as-to conform to the contour of the casing barrelforming a yoke, with the arms embracing the same, when in the collapsed position sho'wnin Figs. 1 and 2. The other end portion of the arms is straight, extending along the casing-to the end thereof, and each has a foot pad 32 pivotally connected to the end thereof as by a pin 32a.

The end cap 22 of the casing 20 is formed with a tapering extension 33 to give an ornamental finished appearance to the casing. The extension 33 is formed or cut away on opposite sides thereof to form a pocket orrecess-for the foot into the recesses 34, they form a part of the end extension of the casing.

The arms 29 and 36 are preferably formed of fiat metal strips having some resiliency. Means are provided for drawing the free ends of the arms toward each other into clamping engagement with a support. This means is in the form of an adjustable toggle connection comprising a,

draw bar 35 and a lever 36. The lever 36 has a bifurcated end, the spaced legs 31 of which are pivotally connected at their ends to the arm bar 35 and lever 36, respectively, serves to throw 29 at opposite sides of and adjacent one end V tapered extension of the end cap 68 to provide a tapered end unit for the casing.

The means for drawing the ends of the arms together takes the form of a threaded rod comprising oppositely threaded sections 6| and 62.

The sections 6| and 62 are threaded through 'swiveled nuts 63 mounted on pins 64 in recesses the section 62. In order to resiliently hold the head 68 in the'recess 61, the head 66 is provided with an axial recess 16 opening from the bottom wall of recess 61 and housing aspring H which the rack 4| into engagement with the pin 42 relation in the slot 38 of lever 29 and the rack end of the bar 35 occupies a recess 45 in the projecting end 33 of the end cap 22 giving a streamlined appearance to the entire organization.

When mounting the flashlight on a support, the arms 29 and 36 are spread apart and swung away from the body of the casing and are simply pressed toward each other with the pads 32 on opposite sides of the support 46 and with the draw bar extending through the opening 43 so that the teeth 4| can engage the pin 42. The lever 36 is then pulled out to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, which is past dead center, thus drawing the arms 29 and 30 together and firmly clamping the pads 32 against opposite sides of the support.

When using the support as a base stand for the flashlight, thepads 32' are clamped. in engagement with each other in a similar operation to form a base member as seen in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that the nut and bolt connection 24 serves as a means of adjusting the frictional engagement between the parts of the ball and socket connection- 262'| so that the flashlight can be adjusted and maintained in any desired position with relation to the bifurcated clamping unit. Also, the clamp 23 being adjustable along the barrel permits ready balancing of the unit when the support is used as a base stard.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, the parts are similar in most respects to those in the form above described except as to the means for drawing the arms into clamping engagement. The flashlight body 56 is of conventional form and the body clamp 5| is formed to provide'a socket 52 for the ball 53 at the end of the arm extension 54 of one of the arms 55 and 56 which are'pivotedtogether at one end as at 51. The arms 55 and 56 are shaped to lie flat against the casing when in collapsed position and are preferably longer than the arms 29 and 30. Foot pads 58, pivotally connected-to the free ends of arms 55 and 56 are shaped to fit within recesses 59 on opposite sides of the presses a ball I2 into engagement with a recess 13 in the face of the head 68 when the parts are in engagement. This structure provides a convenient form of quick detachable coupling between the sections 6| and 62.

' When the sections 6| and 62 are uncoupled to permit collapsing of the supporting arms to the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the heads 66 and 68 extend past the end of the case 50, being accommodated by recesses 14in thepads 58. Also the inner faces of the arms 55 and 56 are channeled between the point of mounting of the nuts 63 and the ends thereof to accommodate the sections 6| and 62. g

It will be obvious that upon coupling the ends of the sections 6| and 62 together and rotating the knurled head 66, the oppositely threaded rods will travel through the nuts 63 and the ends of the arms will be drawn together or forced apart to cause the pads 58 to engage or disengage the support 15.

The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 14 is employed when the support-is applied to a flashlight 16 having a conventional flat end cap 7 11, it being understood that'either of the means shown may be used for drawing the arms together; In this case, the foot pads 18 are dimensioned so that when the arms 18 to which they are pivotally connected are collapsed, the feet will form a pointed end unit conforming to the contour of the casing,

Asshown in Figs. 14 and 16, the support engaging face of the feet may be provided with a cross channel 86, adapting the same to grip round or slender supports such as the pipe 8|. The upper face of the'foot pads are also provided with a recess or channel 82 to accommodate the ends of the arms 19 when in the collapsed position. Fig. 17 illustrates the manner of disposing the feet 18 when gripping the edge of a thin support 83. 4

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, the flashlight casing 85 is provided with channels 86 on opposite sides for the reception of the pivoted clamping arms 81 and 88. At the juncture of the channels 86, a longitudinally extending recess 89 is provided in the body of the casing to accommodate the socket extension 90 carried by the arm 81. A longitudinally adjustable ball 9| adapted for engage- I the latter engage thin or slender objects. The means for drawing the arms together in this form of the invention is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 and the parts are correspondingly numbered.

When the supporting arm structure is collapsed so that the arms 81 and 88 lie in the channels 86, the outer surface of the arms will lie flush with the surface of "the casing and the foot pads will lie in the recessed portions of the end cap 95 so that the supporting structure becomes in effect an integral part of the casing with practically no parts protruding.

While various preferred embodiments and modifications of the details of construction of the invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that various other modifications and changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. r

I claim:

i. A supporting unit for a flashlight having an elongated tubular casing, said supporting unit comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected together at on end thereof, means providing a universal friction connection between said supporting unit and said casing, said arms being shaped to conform to the contour of said casing in a collapsed position of adjustment and having terminal portions extending substantially to the end of said casing when so' collapsed, and a foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each of said arms adapted to form a portion of an end extension unit of said casing when said arms are in collapsed position.

2. A supporting unit for a flashlighthaving a tubular casing, said supporting unit comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected together at one end thereof, means providing a universal friction connection between said supporting unit and said casing: said arms, being shaped to conform to the contour of said casing in a collapsed position of adjustment and having terminal portions extending to the end of said casing when so collapsed, the end portion of said casing being formed with recesses in the outer surface thereof, and a ,foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each of, said arms adapted to seat in the recesses in said end portion of said casing when said arms are in collapsed position.

3. A supporting unit for a flashlight having an elongated tubular casing, said supporting unit comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected. together at one end thereof, means providing a universal friction connection between said supporting unit and said casing, said arms being shaped to conform to the contour of said casing in a collapsed position of'adjustment and having terminal portions extending substantially to the end of said casing, a foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each of said arms adapted to form a portion of an end extension unit of said casing when said-arms are in collapsed position, and means for drawing the free endsof said arms toward each other,

4. A supporting unit for a flashlight having an elongated tubular casing, said supporting unit comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected together at one end thereof, means providing a universal friction connection between said supporting unit and said casing, said arms connection shaped to conform to the contour of said casing in a collapsed position of adjustment and straight terminal portions extending from said arcuate portions to the end of said casing when in said collapsed position, a foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each ofsaid arms adapted to form a portion of an end extension unit of said casing when said arms are in collapsed position, andv means for drawing the free endsof said arms toward each other, said 'means comprising a toggle lever connection insaid supporting unit and said casing, said arms having arcuate portions adjacent said universal connection shaped to.conform to the contour of said casing in a collapsed position of adjustment and straight terminal portions extending from said arcuate portions to the end of said casing when in said collapsed position; a foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each of said arms adapted to form a portion of an end extension unit of said casing when said arms are in 7 collapsed position, and means for drawing the free ends of said arms toward each other, said means comprising a threaded draw rod including detachably connected sections one carried by each of said arms,

6. In a flashlight a tubular casing having spaced channels formed in the outer surface thereof extending from adjacent one end thereof lengthwise of the casing and curved at their inner ends to converge at a point spaced from said end, and a supporting unit swiveled on said casing adjacent the point of convergence of said channels comprising a' pair of arm members pivotally connected together at. one end thereof, said arms being shaped to lie within said channels in said casing when in a collapsed position of adjustment.

'7. In a flashlight a tubular casing having spaced channels formed in the outer surface thereof extending from adjacent one end thereof lengthwise of the casing and curved at their inner ends to converge at a point spaced from said end, a Supporting unit swiveled on said casing adjacent the point of convergence of said channels comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected together at one end thereof, said arms 1 being shaped to lie within said channels in said casing when in a collapsed position of adjustment, said casing having recesses adjacent one end thereof in communication with one end of said channels, and a foot pad pivotally connected to the free end of each of said arm mem- I pads being formed to provide surfaces adapted having arcuate portions adjacent said universal to grip opposite sides of a supporting object and with surfaces adapted to engage each other to dispose said foot pads in position to form a base on which the unit may stand'erect on a fiat surface, and means for drawing the free ends of said arms toward each other to urge said foot pads into clamping engagement with opposite sides of a supporting object or into engagement with each other to form a base for the supporting unit.

9. In a device of the character described a supporting'unit comprising a pair of arm members pivotally connected together at one end thereof, a foot pad member pivotally connected to the free end of each of said arms, said foot pads being formed to provide surfaces adapted to v grip opposite sides of a supporting object and with surfaces adapted toengage each other to dispose said foot pads in position to form a base on which the unit may stand erect on a flat surface, and means for drawing the free ends of said arms toward each other to urge said foot 

